Svetlana Kuznetsova leveled Russia's Fed Cup semifinal with Serbia at 1-1 on Saturday after beating Ana Ivanovic in three sets.
In a clash of two former French Open champions, Kuznetsova overcame stiff resistance to triumph 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 for her first win against Ivanovic on clay.
Ivanovic forced Kuznetsova to fight hard until the end, the Russian said.
“In the second set my concentration went missing a bit and Ana played very well with the ball. ... In the third set she found her game again and was able to dictate the game,” Kuznetsova said.
The Russian dominated Ivanovic in the first set after recovering from an early break of serve to control the set.
Ivanovic saved a break point in the first game of the second, and rallied to break Kuznetsova and take a 2-0 lead, only for the Russian to break back, before Ivanovic took charge with two more breaks of serve to take the set.
Kuznetsova built a 2-0 lead at the start of the third set and held onto her advantage to close out the match.
Ivanovic and Kuznetsova played each other in Russia and Serbia’s only other Fed Cup meeting to date, with Kuznetsova winning 6-1, 6-4 on that occasion in 2010.
Sunday will see singles matches between Jankovic and Kuznetsova, and Ivanovic and Pavlyuchenkova, before the Russian pair of Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina take on Aleksandra Krunic and Bojana Jovanovski in the final doubles.
Russia or Serbia will face either Italy or holders the Czech Republic in November’s final, with the Czechs leading 2-0 in that semifinal.
